Cover for a pier and a pier including a cover

ABSTRACT

A pier includes a plurality of support members, a deck supported by the plurality of support members and arranged to define a top surface area, and a plurality of first fasteners connected to the deck. A deck cover is formed from a flexible material and is sized to cover a portion of the top surface area and a plurality of second fasteners is connected to the deck cover. The plurality of second fasteners cooperates with the plurality of first fasteners to removably attach the deck cover to the top surface area to cover the portion of the top surface area.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/370,930 filed Aug. 5, 2010, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to a cover for a pier. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pier including a cover that is easily removable and installable.

Piers are often used to extend from a land surface into a body of water such as a lake, a river, or a pond. The pier is often made of wood, metal, plastic, or a composite material. The material can become hot or can be damaged by the sunlight or can become slippery when wet.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a pier that includes a plurality of support members, a deck supported by the plurality of support members and arranged to define a top surface area, and a plurality of first fasteners connected to the deck. A deck cover is formed from a flexible material and sized to cover a portion of the top surface area and a plurality of second fasteners are connected to the deck cover. The plurality of second fasteners cooperate with the plurality of first fasteners to removably attach the deck cover to the top surface area to cover the portion of the top surface area.

In one construction, the invention provides a pier that includes a plurality of support members, a deck supported by the plurality of support members and arranged to define a top surface area, and a plurality of first fasteners connected to the deck and arranged to define a first deck area and a second deck area. A first deck cover is formed from a flexible material and sized to cover the first deck area and a second deck cover is formed from a flexible material and sized to cover the second deck area. A plurality of second fasteners is connected to the first deck cover and the second deck cover. The plurality of second fasteners cooperate with the plurality of first fasteners to removably attach the first deck cover and the second deck cover to the top surface area to cover the first deck area and the second deck area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a portion of a pier including a pier cover according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is photo of a portion of another pier illustrating a portion of another pier cover;

FIG. 3 is a close up photo illustrating a fastener arrangement interconnecting the pier cover and the pier; and

FIG. 4 is a photo of several possible fasteners for use in attaching the pier cover to the pier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a pier 10 is often employed to extend from the shoreline of a body of water into the body of water. The pier 10 provides a dry surface that extends from the shallow water near the shore to deeper water more distant from the shore. Boats or other aquatic craft can be tied to the pier 10, tied or anchored adjacent the pier 10 or supported in a separate device adjacent the pier 10 to provide easy access to the craft in water deep enough for operation of the craft.

Piers 10 can be formed in many different shapes and sizes and can be supported using many different mechanisms. In the illustrated construction, the pier 10 includes a plurality of support members 15 that extend to the bottom surface of the body of water and support a pier deck 20 above the water. The supports 15 can simply rest on the bottom of the body of water or can be permanently or temporarily embedded in the bottom of the body of water. In some pier constructions, the deck 20 is supported on a plurality of floating members such that the pier 10 does not directly contact the bottom of the body of water. Often, one or more guide poles engage the deck 20 to allow the level of the deck 20 to move up and down with the water level while inhibiting lateral movement of the floating pier.

The deck 20 is typically formed from a plurality of deck members 25 that are generally positioned adjacent one another but spaced apart to allow water to drain through the pier 10. In many constructions, the deck members 25 are wooden planks that are nailed, screwed or otherwise attached to a frame 30 that is in turn supported by the support members 15. Of course, plastic, composite, metal, and other materials and arrangements could be employed to form the deck 20.

While many deck arrangements are possible, the illustrated construction is consistent with a typical pier 10. The deck 20 includes a long relatively narrow walkway portion 35 and a larger patio region 40 typically positioned at the end of the walkway portion 35. The patio portion 40 provides additional space for activities on the pier 10.

During hot days, the material used to form the deck 20 can become quite hot, thereby making walking on the pier 10 uncomfortable. In addition, many materials will require significant maintenance and up keep due to the excessive exposure to the sun. Furthermore, as wood ages in the sun, slivers tend to develop. These slivers can become lodged in a person's foot.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, the pier deck 20 is covered with a deck cover 45. In the illustrated construction, the deck cover 45 includes a first deck cover 50 that covers the walkway portion 35 of the pier 10 and a second deck cover 55 that covers the patio portion 40 of the pier 10. As one of ordinary skill will realize, the pier 10 could use any number of deck covers 50, 55 including a single cover or more than two covers to cover the desired pier deck area. In the illustrated construction, two deck covers 50, 55 are employed to efficiently cover the desired space. If desired, one could provide a third deck cover to cover the uncovered space illustrated in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first deck cover 50 is rectangular in shape and is elongated to substantially match the walkway portion 35 of the deck 20. The second deck cover 55 is also rectangular but is closer to a square to substantially match the shape of the patio portion 40 of the deck 20 which is also closer to a square. Of course other shapes or arrangements of the deck covers 50, 55 could be employed if desired. In addition, different deck covers 50, 55 or materials could also be employed to form a desired pattern.

FIG. 2 illustrates another pier 60 including a deck cover 65. In this construction, the pier 60 is more T-shaped and thus includes two deck portions 70, 75 that are each substantially elongated rectangular portions. There are also two triangular deck portions 80, 85 positioned adjacent the intersection of the two elongated deck portions 70, 75. A first deck cover 90 is positioned to cover the first elongated rectangular portion 70 and a second deck cover 95 is positioned to cover the second elongated rectangular portion 75. The two triangular portions 80, 85 are shown uncovered but could be covered with separate triangular deck covers or could be covered with a differently shaped first deck cover 90 or second deck cover 95. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that virtually any shaped pier could be covered with deck covers as illustrated herein. It is most economical to use rectangular or square deck covers to reduce waste and cost. However, non rectangular shapes (e.g., polygonal, arcuate, circular, elliptical, triangular, etc.) could be employed if desired.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the deck covers 50, 55, 90, 95 are preferably formed from a carpet-like material. In the illustrated construction, an outdoor carpet is employed. However, other carpet-like materials (i.e., flexible or rollable materials that can be easily cut to a desired size and shape) such as artificial grass or other carpet material could also be employed.

The carpet is cut to the desired size to match the deck portion to be covered and the edges 100 are bound to inhibit fraying and provide a suitable finished look to the deck cover 50, 55, 90, 95. A number of first fasteners 105 are attached to the deck cover 50, 55, 90, 95 at a suitable interval to affix the deck cover 50, 55, 90, 95 to the deck 20, 70, 75. In the illustrated construction, the first fasteners 105 include a button top 110 that is slightly curved and smoothed. The button top 110 provides a smooth surface for people to walk on and reduces the likelihood of minor cuts, scrapes, or other minor injuries that could occur if the fastener 105 were not covered.

A number of second fasteners 115 are positioned on the pier deck 20, 70, 75 and are spaced in a manner similar to the first fasteners 105 on the deck cover 50, 55, 90, 95. Thus, the first fasteners 105 cooperate with the second fasteners 115, by engaging one another to attach the deck cover 50, 55, 90, 95 to the deck 20, 70, 75. The positioning of the second fasteners 115 on the top of the deck 20, 70, 75 of the pier 10, 60 allows for easy installation and removal of the cover 50, 55, 90, 95. For example, many piers 10, 60 are positioned in geographic locations where the pier 10, 60 must be removed before winter. Often the water is too cold to comfortably enter when the pier 10, 60 is removed. Thus, a deck cover 50, 55, 90, 95 that is easily removed without getting into the water is highly desirable. If the second fasteners 115 were positioned on the bottom of the pier deck 20, 70, 75, one would have a very difficult time attaching and detaching the cover 50, 55, 90, 95 without getting into the water.

FIG. 4 illustrates several fasteners 105, 115 that are suitable for use as first fasteners 105 and second fasteners 115. Of course other fasteners or snaps could be employed if desired so long as they provide easy installation and removal of the deck covers.

Thus, the invention provides, among other things, a new and useful cover 50, 55, 90, 95 for use on a pier 10, 60. The cover 50, 55, 90, 95 can be sized and shaped to match virtually any deck surface of a pier 10, 60 to protect the deck surface from sunlight and water while making the pier 10, 60 more comfortable for users. 

1. A pier comprising: a plurality of support members; a deck supported by the plurality of support members and arranged to define a top surface area; a plurality of first fasteners connected to the deck; a deck cover formed from a flexible material and sized to cover a portion of the top surface area; and a plurality of second fasteners connected to the deck cover, the plurality of second fasteners cooperating with the plurality of first fasteners to removably attach the deck cover to the top surface area to cover the portion of the top surface area.
 2. The pier of claim 1, wherein the deck cover is formed from carpet.
 3. The pier of claim 2, wherein the carpet includes a plurality of bound edges.
 4. The pier of claim 1, wherein the second fasteners include a button top.
 5. The pier of claim 1, wherein the first fasteners are directly attached to the top surface of the deck.
 6. The pier of claim 1, wherein 100 percent of the deck cover is disposed above the top surface of the deck.
 7. A pier comprising: a plurality of support members; a deck supported by the plurality of support members and arranged to define a top surface area; a plurality of first fasteners connected to the deck and arranged to define a first deck area and a second deck area a first deck cover formed from a flexible material and sized to cover the first deck area; a second deck cover formed from a flexible material and sized to cover the second deck area; a plurality of second fasteners connected to the first deck cover and the second deck cover, the plurality of second fasteners cooperating with the plurality of first fasteners to removably attach the first deck cover and the second deck cover to the top surface area to cover the first deck area and the second deck area.
 8. The pier of claim 7, wherein the first deck cover is formed from carpet.
 9. The pier of claim 8, wherein the carpet includes a plurality of bound edges.
 10. The pier of claim 7, wherein the second fasteners include a button top.
 11. The pier of claim 7, wherein the first fasteners are directly attached to the top surface of the deck.
 12. The pier of claim 7, wherein 100 percent of the deck cover is disposed above the top surface of the deck. 